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Should new mothers and fathers be guaranteed paid time off?

(Provided Photo)

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – An Ohio City Council member is making a national push for both Republicans and Democrats to include paid maternity and paternity leave in their platforms.

The petition was started by City Council Member Elizabeth Brown as part of MTV’s Elect This campaign.

I am one of the millions of workers in the United States without paid family leave. Like so many others, I didn’t know this or the hard truth about access to paid leave in this country until my own family’s future depended on it. But unlike many others, I’m also an elected official – and I’m tired of lawmakers refusing to make paid family leave a priority.

Brown cites recovering from childbirth, ensuring good nutrition, keeping up with pediatric visits and forming bonds as reasons why paid leave is essential.

While Brown said she could use disability leave in order to get time off, her husband had to use vacation days in order to get a week off.

“This summer, leaders of the Republican Party are coming to my home state to nominate a candidate for president at their convention, and soon after, the Democratic Party will do the same in Philadelphia. I want to hear how both parties plan to fix the fact that the United States is the only developed country in the world that doesn’t guarantee paid maternity leave for new mothers, and one of a handful that do not guarantee paid paternity leave for new fathers,” Brown said.Tap here to view the petition on change.org.